South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda and Schneider Electric have inaugurated a 55 kW solar power plant in Abu Gharqad village, South Sinai Governorate. Schneider Electric in collaboration with Intro Solar and JinkoSolar has been working to provide electricity for the village of Abu Gharqad throughout the day using the latest hybrid solution. Fouda said that the solar power plant is one of the most important development projects in the region, with the potential of changing the village's way of life. Unlike before, the valley will receive electricity throughout the day, and the new plant will also provide power for the Abu Gharqad model farm. He pointed out that the cost of the station reached over EGP 5m. Schneider Electric carried out the project in the village of Abu Gharqad, 50 kilometres from the city of Abou Redis and 150 kilometres from the main road leading to Sharm El-Sheikh city. The project was split into two phases in cooperation with IIntro Solar and JinkoSolar. Walid Sheta, regional president of Egypt, North East Africa, and the Levant at Schneider Electric, said that the company has implemented several development projects in the most impoverished villages, especially areas away from the electricity grid. Schneider Electric, alongside the government of Egypt, are looking to support remote villages with technological means. He added that solar power plants reduce environmental pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, compared to conventional means such as diesel generators for lighting and water extraction. Sherif Abdel Fattah, the deputy CEO of Schneider Electric Egypt, said that the provision of energy is the most important step for communities to achieve progress. The village will receive electricity throughout the day by solar energy, in addition to storing additional energy to feed the village at night by batteries. The project serves 300 people, schools, a mosque, a hospital, and a meeting room, before the solar plant, the village was powered by a 30-kW generator for six hours out of the day, only.
